Pest attack dashes hopes of early vegetable growers

The hope of earning profit from early winter season vegetable farming this year seems to have been dashed for the seasonal growers of Joypurhat due to attack by pest and disease, which has led to rise of the production costs.

Joypurhat Department of Agriculture Extension Scientific Officer (SO) Anwar Hossain Khan said 6,000 hectares of land have been brought under winter vegetable farming in Joypurhat this year, of which early vegetables have been cultivated on 3,000 hectares. Farmers in the district now prefer to cultivate cauliflower, cabbage, bean and tomato at the beginning of winter season, he said.

Gafur Mia of Matapur village under Akkelpur upazila of Joypurhat said he produces early winter vegetables on his land every year as it helps him earn extra money. He said he has cultivated cauliflowers on one acre of land this year at a cost of Tk 32,000, but pest attack has dimmed his hope of profit. “I need to apply pesticides almost every week, which is raising production expenses,” he added.

The pest attacks have already affected the yield, causing losses, he said.

Yakub Mondal of Dashra village under Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat cultivated cabbage and bean on his three acres of land, but a large area has come under pest attack. “I need to spray pesticide frequently to prevent the attack,” he said.

“Each spraying costs me Tk 1,500, including labour charges,” he added.

Early winter vegetable farming used to be profitable, but now things have changed due to high price of fertiliser, pesticide and labour, Yakub said. Price of vegetable is good in the markets, but farmers cannot make profit as they are not getting high yield due to pest attack and disease.

SO Anwar said he advises farmers to apply the correct doses to prevent disease and pest attack.